Taken from an interview:
- Next, focusing on Sakura. What do you see as the image of a heroine?
K: My idea of a heroine isn't very clear. Because of that, even though I tried
to depict a heroine, it didn't end up like one. "Someone unable to understand
the workings of men..." is the feeling I ended up with.
- Maybe that's what attracts people to Sakura?
K: Maybe. I didn't really make Sakura out to be a "heroine", my point of view
had been that if a somewhat dislikeable character was introduced, I wondered if
it would become interesting... I created Naruto and created Sasuke, the last one
was Sakura. But I think she's a cheerful, good character. The type that wants to
be leader and is energetic and, in front of Sasuke, childlike. That is what I
decided was the way of the keyword Sakura.